Star Trek Already Had A Federation Before The United Federation Of Planets

First mentioned in Star Trek: The Original Series, a different Federation existed before the creation of the United Federation of Planets. Star Trek writer Gene L. Coon is credited with creating the Federation, and helping to establish Starfleet as a concept. The Federation was first mentioned in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 23, "A Taste of Armageddon," which features a visiting Federation Ambassador, and has since become a central part of the Star Trek universe and played a role in nearly every Star Trek series.

Several Star Trek projects have revolved around the United Federation of Planets and its establishment. For example, Star Trek: Enterprise leads up to the founding of the Federation, while Star Trek: First Contact depicts humanity's first encounter with the Vulcans. So many disparate elements had to come together for the Federation to form, and its existence exemplifies Gene Roddenberry's utopian vision of the future. However, while this version of the Federation is the most well-known in Star Trek, another Federation actually existed first.

Star Trek's First Federation Predated The United Federation Of Planets

Balok Is The Only Official Representative Of The First Federation Seen On Screen

In Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 10, "The Corbomite Maneuver," Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his crew encounter Commander Balok and his ship, the Fesarius. Balok says his ship is the flagship of the so-called First Federation, and announces that the Enterprise will be destroyed for trespassing into First Federation space. Kirk decides to bluff Balok and claims that a substance called corbomite will destroy Balok's ship along with the Enterprise. Kirk and his crew eventually meet the real Balok (Clint Howard), who is actually an incredibly intelligent child-like alien who claims he was only testing the Enterprise.

Balok serves as a representative for the First Federation and proposes that one of the Enterprise crew members remain on his ship to facilitate an exchange of knowledge and culture. Lt. Dave Bailey (Anthony Call) volunteers to remain aboard the Fesarius with Balok. Although neither Balok nor Bailey have been seen onscreen since, the First Federation remains a part of Star Trek history. Many details surrounding the First Federation remain unknown, but it's very possible it predates the United Federation of Planets.

The First Federation Has Been Mentioned After Star Trek: TOS

The First Federation Exists Through At Least The 32nd Century

While Balok converses with Captain Kirk in "The Corbomite Maneuver," he shares a drink from the First Federation called tranya. Sometime later, the First Federation began exporting tranya to Federation colonies, and by the time of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, it was being served at Quark's. The drink is also mentioned in Star Trek: Picard season 1, episode 5, "Stardust City Rag" as being served on the planet Freecloud. Furthermore, the First Federation has been spotted on star charts and maps seen in the background of scenes in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and Star Trek: Discovery.

Star Trek: Lower Decks has also incorporated references to Balok and the First Federation. In Lower Decks season 3, episode 5, "Reflections," the Collectors Guild have a device from the First Federation at their recruitment booth at a fair on Tulgana IV. The puppet Balok initially used to intimidate Captain Kirk has also made a couple of appearances on Lower Decks. Although much about the First Federation remains a mystery, the intergalactic power introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series remains active through the 32nd century.